Former President Bill Clinton and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have refused to comply with House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer's demand that they appear for depositions regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files.
According to the New York Times, the Clintons are challenging Comer's authority to compel their testimony, effectively calling his bluff about pursuing contempt of Congress charges.
In a letter to Comer obtained by the Times, the couple wrote, "Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people, no matter the consequences. For us, now is that time."
Bill Clinton was expected to appear before Comer's committee on Tuesday, with Hillary Clinton slated for a Wednesday appearance.
Observers have suggested Comer is using the Clintons as political targets to deflect scrutiny from Donald Trump, who maintained a longtime relationship with convicted sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein. The Trump administration's Department of Justice has been criticized for delays in releasing the complete Epstein files.
Comer had previously threatened contempt proceedings if the Clintons failed to appear for closed-door depositions, setting deadlines of Tuesday for former President Clinton and Wednesday for Hillary Clinton.
In their response, the Clintons stated, "We are confident that any reasonable person in or out of Congress will see, based on everything we release, that what you are doing is trying to punish those who you see as your enemies and to protect those you think are your friends."
The Times reports that this confrontation is likely headed toward "a messy legal battle" as both parties escalate the dispute.